An ice-cream parlour is to help families on a fundraising mission melt away their £30k target.

Layla’s, which is based in Ocean Beach Pleasure Park, South Shields, is getting behind The Cruse Crew campaign.

The group – made up of South Tyneside families who have been affected by the death of a loved one – is aiming to raise £30,000 in the next 12 months for Cruse Bereavement Care Tyneside.

The cash will be used to help the charity bring its children’s bereavement support service to the borough.

Now, after hearing of the group’s plight, Alice Powell has given her support to their fundraising mission after knowing what it is like to bring up two children following the death of a partner.

Mrs Powell’s husband, Henry, was killed in a work accident 36 years ago. She said: “Rachel was three and Michelle was nine when Henry was killed, so I can relate to what the families are going through.

“When my husband died, there was no counselling or support of this kind available, and now there is an opportunity to have something like this in South Tyneside, you can’t help but feel inspired by what the families are doing to actually make this happen.

“Having a support service like this for children is important and much needed, and it’s one of the reason’s why I want to give my support to the cause.”

Already, collection tins placed on the counter of Layla’s ice-cream parlour and Powell’s and daughter’s food kiosk – also based within the pleasure park – have been filled.

The parlour will also be making a donation to the Cruse Crew.

Coun Ernest Gibson, member of the Cruse Crew, said: “We are really grateful to Alice and her family for getting behind the Cruse Crew’s campaign.

“Since we launched we have received so much support from the public and from businesses – it really is phenomenal, and we can’t thank people enough from the bottom of our hearts.